Flexible conveyor belt carried cells for dispensing machine

ABSTRACT

A vending machine having an endless, vertical conveyor, formed of flat, separable links and a flexible, resilient productcarrying shelf; each of the conveyor links being associated with a product-carrying shelf and being adapted to be engaged by an adjacent link and shelf such that when there is no product on the shelf (on the return movement), the shelf bends or pivots to thereby require less space between the conveyor and the backwall of the machine than between the conveyor and the front wall of the machine.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Leo S. Bendl 274 Oradell Ave.,Paramus, NJ. 07652 [21] Appl. No. 849,039 [22] Filed Aug. 11, 1969 [45]Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54] FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR BELT CARRIED CELLS FORDISPENSING MACHINE 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 221/84, 108/94, 198/154 [51] Int. Cl G07f 11/00 [50] Fieldof Search 221/76-86; 108/37, 94,136; 198/154 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,823,093 9/19 31 puGrenier 221/84 3,114,47312/1963 Weber 221/82 3,287,074 1 H1966 Crossley... 22l/77 X 3,303,9212/1967 Gore 221/78 X Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Samuelson & Jacob i when there is no product on the shelf (on the returnmovement), the shelf bends or pivots to thereby require less spacebetween the conveyor and the backwall of the machine than between theconveyor and the front wall of the machine.

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SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR. LEO S. BE NDL ATTORNEYS FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR BELTCARRIED CELLS FOR DISPENSING MACHINE The invention relates to vendingmachines and more particularly to conveyors and shelves which are usedin such machines.

Some candy-vending machines usually are made up of one or more verticalendless conveyors each of which is provided with a plurality of shelveson which the articles to be dispensed are carried. The conveyor moves insteps in response, most generally, to the insertion of the proper numberof coins into the collecting mechanism. The dispensing chute throughwhich the articles are discharged is usually located near the bottom ofthe machine to simplify the dispensing operation. Moreover, thislocation, in combination with the glass front of the machine, permitsthe prospective purchaser and/or the person servicing the machine to seehow many unsold articles are still in the machine.

After the product is dispensed from the shelf, the next shelf moves intoposition so as to be ready to discharge its article in response to thereceipt of the proper number of coins. Since the conveyors are of theendless type, the shelves, which have been emptied of product, are nowcarried around a ratchet, pulley or similar mechanism at the bottom ofthe machine to the back of the machine.

The shelves will take up as much horizontal space at the back of themachine as they do at the front unless they are either flexible orpivoted. Most prior art shelves are rigid horizontally so that no spacecan be saved at the rear of the machine even though no product is beingcarried during the return movement.

Since the space taken up by the vending machines is generally expensivedue to their being located in welltravelled, occupied areas, it isdesirable to reduce the dimensions of the machine as much as possible.Logically, this can best be accomplished by reducing the front to backdimension. However, since the shelf is horizontal as it moves downwardat the front of the machine and carries the article to be dispensed, thedistance between the conveyor and the front of the machine is dictatedby the length of the shelf. Accordingly, the saving must be made at therear or back of the machine.

In order to save space at the rear of the machine, the shelves musteither be flexible or pivoted. In either case, the shelves will occupyless horizontal distance and it will then be possible to reduce thedistance between the conveyor and the rear or backwall of the vendingmachine.

Therefore, it is an important object of the invention to provide aflexible shelf for vending machines which is formed of resilientmaterial so that on the return movement when it contacts the rear wallof the machine, it flexes and upon leaving contact with the backwall orthe top or bottom of the machine it extends outward from the conveyor ina direction perpendicular to the conveyor and is substantiallyhorizontal during the downward movement. In this horizontal position,the shelf is able to carry product toward the dispensing outlet of themachine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a suitable link for avending machine conveyor to cooperate with the shelf and hold theshelfin position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a linkwhich is rigidly fixed to its associated shelf and which may easily bejoined to the adjacent links above and below it.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a linkwhich may easily be joined to the adjacent links above and below it andwhich permits the shelf to be easily affixed thereto and removedtherefrom.

These and other objects, features, advantages and uses will be apparentduring the course of the following description, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofa first embodiment of the conveyorand shelfofthc invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. I ofa second embodiment of theconveyor and shelf of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the shelf and conveyor links usedto form the conveyor of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the shelfand conveyor links used to form the conveyor of FIG. 2.

When used in this description and claims:

top" means the upper surface of the shelf or the upper por tion of thelink when the shelf and/or the link is in position during the downwardmovement of the conveyor (toward the dispensing outlet);

top," when applied to the machine means the upper portion thereof whenin place for normal operation;

bottom means the lower surface of the shelf or the lower portion of thelink when the shelf and/or the link is in position during the downwardmovement of the conveyor;

bottom, when applied to the machine means the lower portion thereof whenin place for normal operation;

above" refers to elements higher than the reference element duringdownward movement of the conveyor;

below refers to elements lower than the reference element duringdownward movement of the conveyor;

dispensing or downward movement" means the direction of motion of theshelves of the conveyor as they proceed toward the discharge exit of themachine;

return movement means the direction of motion of the shelves of theconveyor as they proceed after passing the discharge exit;

front wall means the surface of the machine which faces and is closer tothe user during normal operation; and

backwall" or rear wall" means the surface of the machine further fromthe user in normal operation.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shown twoparticular embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 designates aconveyor of the invention. Since the drive mechanism and thecoin-operated, actuating mechanism do not form a part of this invention,they are not illustrated. However, it should be understood that the convyors and shelves of the invention may be used severally or in groups invending machines and with any type of such mechanisms which are wellknown in the art so long as they meet the desired requirements of theparticular use to which the machine is to be put.

Conveyor 10 (FIG. I) is seen to comprise a plurality of flat, separablelinks 12 and a plurality of flexible, resilient shelves 14. Conveyor 10is mounted in a manner well known in the art in cabinet 16 which has atop 18, a bottom 20, a front wall 22, which is usually provided with aviewing glass, and a back wall 24. The discharge opening or exit islocated in the area designated 26. As can be seen from the constructionof ratchet 28 and latch 30, the conveyor 10 moves in steps so that onlyone shelf 14 is discharged of its product 32 at a time.

As the conveyor 10 continues to move in response to actuation, theshelves 14, which have passed the discharge or dispensing exit, areflexed when they come into contact with the bottom 20, backwall 24 ortop 18. Shelves 14 are formed in one piece of any sturdy, flexibleresilient material such as spring steel. Thus, the shelf will return toits expanded position, perpendicular to the link upon losing contactwith a confining surface ofthe machine.

Link 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided with an elongated hook 34 at the topand with an elongated, lateral slot 36 near its bottom. The slot andhook are sized so that they may be cooperatively engaged to form theendless conveyor 10. The hook of the lower link cooperates with the slotof the next adjacent link above it. Shelf 14 is permanently affixed toits associated link 12 by any well-known means such as is shown at 38.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. I ofa second embodiment of theinvention. Conveyor 50 is mounted in vending machine 16 which is thesame as machine 16 of FIG. I and the conveyor is moved as determined byratchet 28 and latch 30 and operates in the same manner as conveyor 10.

As the shelves 54, which are formed in one piece of the same material asshelves 145, pivot due to the force of gravity and as they contactbottom 20, rear wall 24 and top I8, they are flexed as shown in FIG. 2.When they lose such contact, they extend outward from the links as shownand are substantially perpendicular to their associated links during thedownward movement.

Link 52 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is provided with elongated lateral slot 56 nearits bottom which cooperates with hook 58 which is at the top of the nextadjacent lower link. A pair of tabs 64 is provided to hold the ends ofresilient wire 68 in position. Wire 68 is threaded through openings 70so that its two vertical portions are at the back of the link and itshorizontal portion is at the front of the link.

Upstanding tab 62 is a part of elongated hook 58 and cooperates withopening 60 for ease of assembly and disassembly and with the horizontalrun of wire 68 to serve to keep the conveyor intact. Shelf 54 isprovided with a pair of hooks 72 which are inserted through openings 66and are latched behind the vertical portions of wire 68.

It can readily be seen that the distances between the conveyor and thebackwall of the machine and between the conveyor and the top and bottomof the machine can be made smaller than could be done if the shelveswere not formed of flexible, resilient material. Consequently, vendingmachines using conveyors and shelves of the invention will occupy lessfloorspace and height than do other machines whose shelves are notflexible.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it isobvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A vending machine for dispensing articles therefrom and having frontand backwalls and a top and bottom comprising:

an endless vertical conveyor comprising:

a plurality of flat, separable links;

each of said links having means for engaging the links adjacent thereto;

a one-piece shelf associated with each of said links and connectedthereto for carrying an article to be dispensed by the vending machinewhile it is closer to the front wall;

the vending machine being arranged such that the article to be dispensedis discharged from the shelf at or near the bottom of the front wall sothat there is no article thereon during the return movement of the shelfwhile it is closer to the backwall;

the shelf being formed of flexible, resilient material so that the topand the bottom and the backwall of the machine may be closer to theconveyor than the front wall to thereby permit the shelf to behorizontal when it is carrying an article While it is adjacent the frontwall and to contact the top, bottom and backwall and to flexsufficiently so as to accommodate to the lesser space between each ofthem and the conveyor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

each of the flat, separable links is permanently affixed to the shelfassociated therewith; and

each such link is perpendicular to the shelf to which it is affixedduring the downward movement of the shelf.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein:

the link has a slot therein near the bottom thereof; and including:

an elongated hook at the top of the link to engage the slot of theadjacent link immediately above the link.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

each of the flat, separable links is provided with a slot near the loweredge thereof, an elongated hook at the upper edge thereof sized andshaped to engage the slot of the adjacent link above the link andcooperating means on the link and the associated shelf for engaging thelink to the shelf such that the link is perpendicular to the shelf asthe shelf passes near the front wall of the machine and is capable ofcarryin an article. 5. The invention of c arm 4 wherein the cooperatingmeans are shaped such that shelves pivot downward during the returnmovement of the conveyor.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cooperating means comprises:

a pair of openings in the link;

a pair of hooks affixed to the shelf; and

means for holding the hooks locked in the openings.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the means for holding the hookslocked in the openings comprises:

a pair of tabs on the rear of the link near the top thereof;

a pair of holes near the bottom of the link and near the edges thereof;and

a wire threaded through the holes and held in position by the tabs;

the wire being shaped and biased such that the force thereof holds thehooks on the shelf in position with respect to the link and therebyprevents the link and shelf from becoming disengaged.

8. The invention of claim 7 including a third tab upstanding from theelongated hook to engage the wire of the adjacent link above the linkand to thereby prevent the links from being separated.

1. A vending machine for dispensing articles therefrom and having frontand backwalls and a top and bottom comprising: an endless verticalconveyor comprising: a plurality of flat, separable links; each of saidlinks having means for engaging the links adjacent thereto; a one-pieceshelf associated with each of said links and connected thereto forcarrying an article to be dispensed by the vending machine while it iscloser to the front wall; the vending machine being arranged such thatthe article to be dispensed is discharged from the shelf at or near thebottom of the front wall so that there is no article thereon during thereturn movement of the shelf while it is closer to the backwall; theshelf being formed of flexible, resilient material so that the top andthe bottom and the backwall of the machine may be closer to the conveyorthan the front wall to thereby permit the shelf to be horizontal when itis carrying an article while it is adjacent the front wall and tocontact the top, bottom and backwall aNd to flex sufficiently so as toaccommodate to the lesser space between each of them and the conveyor.2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: each of the flat, separable linksis permanently affixed to the shelf associated therewith; and each suchlink is perpendicular to the shelf to which it is affixed during thedownward movement of the shelf.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein: thelink has a slot therein near the bottom thereof; and including: anelongated hook at the top of the link to engage the slot of the adjacentlink immediately above the link.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein:each of the flat, separable links is provided with a slot near the loweredge thereof, an elongated hook at the upper edge thereof sized andshaped to engage the slot of the adjacent link above the link andcooperating means on the link and the associated shelf for engaging thelink to the shelf such that the link is perpendicular to the shelf asthe shelf passes near the front wall of the machine and is capable ofcarrying an article.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the cooperatingmeans are shaped such that shelves pivot downward during the returnmovement of the conveyor.
 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein thecooperating means comprises: a pair of openings in the link; a pair ofhooks affixed to the shelf; and means for holding the hooks locked inthe openings.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the means for holdingthe hooks locked in the openings comprises: a pair of tabs on the rearof the link near the top thereof; a pair of holes near the bottom of thelink and near the edges thereof; and a wire threaded through the holesand held in position by the tabs; the wire being shaped and biased suchthat the force thereof holds the hooks on the shelf in position withrespect to the link and thereby prevents the link and shelf frombecoming disengaged.
 8. The invention of claim 7 including a third tabupstanding from the elongated hook to engage the wire of the adjacentlink above the link and to thereby prevent the links from beingseparated.